What’s Hot

Find Something to Do

I Feel Like...

I Feel Like...

Like What? at places
Where? sometime
When?
What Kind of Food? at places
Where? with a wallet that's
How Full? with other perks including
What Options? to the beat of
What Kind of Music? at places
Where? sometime
When? at places
Where? on
When? aroundwith a glass of
What Kind Of Drink?

Lead Belly Coffee, a project from partners Toby Wright, Emma Saperstein and Matthew Madison, will inhabit a 2,100-square-foot space at the corner of Main and Crowdus streets. And when it debuts in early October, Lead Belly will be a breakfast, lunch and dinner spot as well as a cocktail-focused bar. Eventually the business will be a coffee roaster, too.

It's a concept for "working during the day and socializing at night," says Saperstein.

The trio's preliminary design calls for keeping the "history" of the building and creating a minimalist space that doesn't fuss too much with what's already there. They will add a stage for live music and utilize the outdoor areas out front and out back of the building for seating.

As for the name, Wright added some insight:

"It means going with your gut and going with your instincts, which reminds me of Dallas and reminds me of Deep Ellum. It's also about being able to drink a bunch of shots."

We're guessing he means espresso and liquor. About that ...

Drinks

For Wright and Madison, who are brothers, a coffee shop has long been a dream since spending time with their grandfather on his coffee farm in Kona, Hawaii. They offered scant details about menu specifics, but plan to use coffee beyond espresso drinks; for example, there will be house-made coffee liqueur and several coffee cocktails.

"We're going to have the best coffee in Deep Ellum," says Wright.

Other cocktails on the menu will rotate seasonally. Additionally, Lead Belly plans to homebrew its own kombucha. As for beer, there won't be any draft taps at Lead Belly, but there will be a solid bottle selection, the owners say.

Eats

Lead Belly will open at 7 a.m. every day of the week to provide a grab-and-go breakfast option for the neighborhood. Lunch will be "cafe style," says Saperstein, with sandwiches like a grilled cheese featuring cheese from a company she works for out of Chicago. Dinner will be more like bar food and served until 2 a.m. Hear that? Food service until 2 a.m.!